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Daniel Ricciardo (C) is attempting to become the first Australian to win an F1 Grand Prix on home soil.

AFP: Saeed Khan

In typical Aussie fashion, Daniel Ricciardo has adopted a "she'll be right" attitude ahead of his Formula One debut with heavyweights Red Bull in Melbourne on Sunday.

Unlike the frenzied Albert Park fans who celebrated Ricciardo dramatically qualifying second fastest, the affable driver could not appear more laidback as the nation sweated on a long overdue local champion.

No Australian has won at home since the Australian Grand Prix became part of the F1 world championship in 1985.

But suddenly Ricciardo appears ready to achieve something the man he replaced at Red Bull, Mark Webber, never could - savour an Albert Park triumph.

Not that he was getting ahead of himself.

Asked how he would sleep on Saturday night, Ricciardo flashed his trademark grin and said: "She'll be right.

"For me to start the season with a front row does a lot of good things for the confidence.

"Obviously it's just the start ...but the last couple of days have been really positive.

"I'm really excited but at the same time still staying calm and collected because tomorrow is what counts definitely.

"I heard all the crowd on the cool-down lap. All I can say is hopefully I hear that tomorrow."

Ricciardo revelled in Saturday's wet qualifying conditions and narrowly missed out on becoming the first Australian to take pole in his home race, finishing three tenths of a second behind Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.

The West Australian notched his career best in qualifying, bettering his fifth place at last year's British Grand Prix when driving for Toro Rosso.

Hamilton's pole position equalled British compatriot Nigel Mansell's career tally of 32.